2007 pivot tables in 2003

[Guest]

I have done some reading on using 2007 pivot tables in 2003. So I know that
the pivot tables get a version stamp and you can't edit a 2007 pivot table in
2003.

Is there any way in 2007 to create a 2003 pivot table?

I have an application that dumps data into a spreadsheet (from SQL Server)
and then pivots a report. These reports are interactive reports, in that the
end user can change the pivot table to see what they are interested in.

If I do this in 2007, and my end users are in 2003, they no longer have that
interactivity. I need to correct this problem or live with 2003 until all
our users upgrade (could be years).

 

[nick_hodge]

Scott

If you either

1) Create the PT in Excel 2003
2) Save the file as a 97-2003 in 2007

You should be able to open and interact with the PT in Excel 2003. If
you use any new features in 2007 you will get the compatibility
checker warning of what may be lost, so you should stick to things and
limits that apply in 2003.

Onece you have a file as an *.xls (2003) file saving in 2007 will
retain this, you wll have to explicitly save to an *.xlsx to upgrade
it and of course you will loose the intercativity in prior versions

HTH
Nick Hodge
Microsoft MVP - Excel
www.nickhodge.co.uk

 

[Guest]

Hi Nick,

I guess #1 is pretty obvious - but that's what I' trying to avoid.

#2 doesn't work for me. Did you try it? My 'understanding' (not that I am
sure) is that the pivot table is still stamped with the 2007 version stamp,
even if the old file format is used.

Scott

 

[Debra Dalgleish]

In Excel 2007, save the file in 97-2003 format.
Close, and reopen the file, and you'll be in compatibility mode.
Then, create the pivot table, and it will be in an old version, that the
Excel 2003 users can interact with.

If the pivot table is not created in compatibility mode, it will be read
only in older versions.

 

[Guest]

I think this is what Nick was saying, too.

It does work for me after all. I really thought I tried this, but I must
have done something wrong.

So my next question is how to do this programmatically. I have a .net app
that launches excel, loads the data and does the pivoting. Is there a way to
force compatability mode programmatically prior to loading and pivoting the
data? I suppose one method would be to save a blank excel 2003 file and ship
that with the software...

 

[Guest]

Thank you Debra!

That did it for me!
But I can't avoid thinking that there must be a easier way :-S

Nils

 

[Sam]

I'm having a similiar problem. I'm trying to save a pivot table into an older
format in Excel 2007. I receive a message stating that the pivot table is too
large for the old format. But if I create the pivot table in Excel 2003, with
same data source, I don't get any message and the pivot table is generated.
Are there any solutions to this?